The Ashes may be a symbol of one of the most famous rivalries in sport, but this summer three Investec Ashes Test Match venues have put their historical competitive instincts aside to join forces to deliver education and community engagement programmes.

The Ashes Legacy Partnership is a new collaboration between MCC, Nottinghamshire and Durham County Cricket Foundation aimed at bringing the benefits of hosting Investec Ashes Test Matches to local communities in London, Nottingham and Durham respectively.

The venues have shared ideas and best practice to establish programmes incorporating volunteering, community art and music, and youth and disability cricket competitions.

The three partners have also worked with ECB to twin local and Australian schools to deliver lessons based on the Anglo-Australian rivalry as part of the new Ashes School Challenge educational resource.

MCC has partnered with Volunteer Centre Westminster to offer local people the opportunity to volunteer at a Test at Lord’s for the first time, and with Middlesex CCC to deliver the Ashes School Challenge to local schools.

Derek Brewer, Chief Executive & Secretary at MCC, said: "With three series over the next three years, now is the perfect time to harness the power of the Ashes to bring about positive change to the lives of local people in Nottingham, Durham and London.

"The three venues may compete against each other to host international matches, but by collaborating in this Ashes Legacy Partnership we are greater than the sum of our parts.

Whether it’s sharing best practice on volunteer training programmes or providing pilot schemes for a new form of inclusive cricket for people with disabilities, we believe this Partnership will bring real benefits to the lives of people in our local communities.

"This is just the beginning: we hope that the Partnership will go from strength to strength in the future, including in non-Ashes years, and provide a valuable foundation for counties to work together for the good of the game."